Pipe-clamp.



J. T. S. BROWN, JR.

PIPE CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED oEc.. 1. 1915.

1,179,500. Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

W g 111M 3 o, 3 I 3 Fi i- 1 3/ i 15 I. r a Q I I a 9 j: M 7 M 1/ ATTOR/VE Y JOHN T. s. BROWN, JR.,'0F rnos'rnor', KENTUCKY.

PIPE-CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Application filed December 1', 1915; Serial No; 64,543.

- annexed specification;

This? invention relates to pipe clamps of the" classdesigned tosupportapipe when withdrawing. it from, or lowering it in a deep well.

In withdrawing av drop, pipe from a well the; customary method is'toconnect suitable tractive means with the pipe, and a stop; or clamp,comprising? a pair of timbersprovided with opposed concavities for there- 7 ception of the pipe; is disposedabout the pipe; and? securedthereom. next to the ground, by means o1": transverse bolts. Then thetractive means has reached the limit of its m0Vement-,. the' stop whichis then removed from the ground", is" released by 1oosening;thebolts,:and lowered to .the groundand again secured- Thetra'ctive means istheneased ofi'-,-the stop sustaining the pipe I whileanew hold is securedwith thetractivemeans: lnr'l'owerin'g. the pipe in the well, the stop isinitially secured ,on the pipe distance fromtheground equal to thelowering; movement of the tractive means and". serves when it comes incontact, with the ground to hold the pipe while "the tractive means isbeing moved up tov secure a fresh hold: It alsoserves to'catcheandi holdthe pipe in. case of any; mishap to' thetrac tivermeans: 'llfhis havin'gto shiftthe stop at everyr step" 111 the progress of the Wit/11's drawalor' lowering the drop" pipe makes-the proposition a laborious andtedious operat-iona, e

object 0t this invention is-to'zp'rovide means which? while permitting afree with= d-rawal-of-the pipe will instantly check any retrogradevmove'mentrthereofi Another object is'the provisioli of means which willnot oppose the lowering of the pipe as long as the'movement thereofissteady, but will stop its descent if there-is sudden acceleration of itsmovement, such as would occur if-the tractive meansshould fail 'or its'connection'with' the pipe slip.

A' turther object isgthe provision of means of the classdescribed whichmay be conven ieiitly manipulated; per-mittinga expeditious movement ofthe drop pipe, which will be eflicient and durable in service andeconomical in construction.

With the foregoing and other objectsin view, the invention consists ofthe novel construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, which forms a part of thisspecificatiom wherein isset forth anembodiment of" the invention, but it isto be understood-thatsuch changes and modifications'may be resorted to ascome within thescope of the appended claims;

Referringv to the drawing whe'rein'similar reference charactersd'esignate like parts: in the several views Figure 1 is a perspectiveView of my improved clamp showing itin connection with a pipe being,lowered-r Fig; 2, a" detacheddetailof the centering device: Fig. 3,, adetached viewof oneofthe dogs:

Referring in detail to the drawingthe reference numeral -1- designates abase, or platform, which may beo'f any suitable material, comprising.two sections united by transverse bolts 2 and having acentral op'ening-3of suflicientsize to" permit the passage of a pipe-of maximum size.-Mounted on the base about theopeningare a" plurality of guides orcentering members -4: which are adapted to contact'with'a pipe 5 whichdepends through the opening; Each oi the guides comprises a tube 6 whichis adjujstably secured in bearings, orj brackets by suitable means-Vsuch as set screws-8 in order that itmay beadjusted to-aud from theeaterof theppenin-g-"to accommodatepipeof different sizes. A rodprovided-'-at; each endwith a longitudinal. slot as -10 and 11', is slidablydisposed inthe-tube 6 and extendstherefrom at each end. A wheel -12'v isrotatably mountedin the forward slot 10. A: pinI 1-3 passed.transversely through the tube 6, near-the rear end thereof,passes-through the slot 11,; andserves to prevent rotation of the; r0d,,thus maintain; ing thewh'eel- 12 in a vertical position. A. coiledcompression spring disposed about the forward portion'of the rod, bearsrespectively against theiforward end of the tubeiand: a washer -f15''which is'secured on-the rod in the rear of the-Wheel; The

rear. end oi the rod is screw threaded for mit joints in the pipe topass. A plurality of dogs, or jaws 17, are disposed about the opening 3in position to be engaged with the depending pipe 5. The dogs aremounted on the platform in such a manner that they may be adjusted toseize different size pipe. Any suitable method of mounting may be used.As illustrated a channel shaped bracket 18 is employed, having aplurality of alined transverse openings 19 in its opposed walls, whichpermit of the adjustment of the dog by means of a pin 20. The dogs aresubstantially ovate in shape, and are provided with a perforation 21near the rear end for the passage of the pin 29, the forward end beingprovided with serrations 22 for engagement with the pipe. And an angularheel 23 at the rear end serves to limit its upward movement. The dogsare reversible, thereby prolonging their usefulness.

As described the device will serve to control the pipe during withdrawalthereof, the dogs being adjusted so that their forward ends lie againstthe pipe at an inclination slightly above the horizontal so that theywill yield freely to upward movement thereof but instantly bite into andbring it to a stand still upon its slightest downward movement. Then apipe is being lowered the dogs must be held up out of contact with thepipe during the lowering movement. For this purpose use is made of theapparatus now to be described. To the forward ends of the dogs, flexibleconnectives -Q5 are connected by suitable means such as clips 26. Theconnectives are connected to a common member such as a ring, or hoop 27,aifording means whereby all the dogs may be lifted at one time. Aplurality of ropes 28, 29- are connected to the hoop at equi-distantpoints, in such a manner as to lift evenly thereon, and are led up overpulleys 30 which are removably attached to the pipe at a suitable hei htabove the hoop. From the pulleys 30 the ropes lead downward to andthrough pulleys 31-, secured to the platform. Traction exerted on theropes after they have passed through the pulleys 31 will raise the hoop27 and connected dogs and they will be maintained in the elevatedposition as long as the traction is constant. This traction may beaccomplished manually or as illustrated, by means of a weight 32-attached to the ropes after they have passed over pulleys 33. Anyrelaxation of the tractive force on the hoop will permit the dogs todrop and engage the pipe. The descent of the pipe and attached pulleys30, would cause a slack in the ropes, which would allow'the ring tofall, but that the slack is taken up by the tractive force of the weight32, as

long as the downward movement of the pipe is constant, but any suddenacceleration of its movement, such as would occur if the lowering cable3lwere to break,

would cause a slackage which would permit I conversant with the art towhich it pertains,

without more extended description.

Having thus described my invention so that anyone skilled in the artpretaining thereto may make and use the same, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a platformhaving an opening for the passage of a pipe to be lowered, a clutchmounted on said platform and adapted to be engaged with the pipe toprevent downward movement thereof, and means connected respectively withsaid clutch and pipe for preventing engagement of the clutch with thepipe during uniform downward movement thereof, but permitting engagementupon sudden acceleration of said downward movement.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination with aplatform having an opening for the passage of a pipe to be lowered, dogsmounted thereon and adapted to be engaged with the pipe to preventdownward movement thereof, means for holding the dogs out of engagementwith the pipe during constant downward movement thereof but permittingsaid engagement upon any sudden acceleration of said downward movement.

3. In combination with a platform, having an opening, a pipe to belowered depending through said opening, a dog mounted on said platformand adapted to be engaged with said pipe to prevent downward movementthereof, a pulley removably attached to the pipe at a point elevatedabove the platform, a second pulley attached to the platform, a cordconnected to said dog and leading'up over said first named pulley thencedownward under said second named pulley and tractive means connected tosaid cord.

4. In combination with a platform having an opening, a pipe to belowered depending through said opening, a dog mount- I ed on'saidplatform and adapted to be engaged with said pipe to prevent downwardmovement thereof, a pulley removably attached to the pipe at a pointelevated above the platform, a second pulley attached tothe platform, athird pulley supported at a point above said second named pulley, ,a

cord connected to said dog and leading upward over said first namedpulley thence downward under said second named pulley, thence upwardover said third named pulley and a weight attached to said cord.

5. In combination with a platform having an opening, a pipe to belowered depending through said opening, a plurality of dogs mounted onsaid platform and adapted to be engaged with said pipe to preventdownward movement thereof, a common member to which said dogs areconnected and whereby they may be lifted in unison, pulleys removablyattached to the pipe at a point elevated above the platform, otherpulleys attached to the platform, cords connected to said common memberand lead- 20 ing successively over said pulleys in the order named, andtractive means connected to the rope.

6. In combination with a platform having an opening, a pipe to belowered depending through said opening, .a plurality of centeringmembers disposed about said opening, said members adapted to yield topermit the passage of couplings in the pipe, a plurality of dogs mountedon said platform and adapted to be engaged with said pipe to preventdownward movement thereof, a pulley removably attached to the pipe atapoint elevated above the platform, a second pulley attached to theplatform, a cord connected to said dog and leading up over said firstnamed pulley, thence downward under said second named pulley andtractive means connected to said cord.

JOHN T. S. BROWN, JR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G. a

